Can-filling machine



3 SHEETS'SHYEET I B. P. BABCOCK. CAN FILLING MACHINE. FILED OCT. 13. 1920-.

lril c a o 0, 7

Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,858

8. P. BABCOCK. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

FILED "001'. 13., 1920. 3 wears-sues: 2

Patented Dee. 26; 1922.

ru 1-; ;rai sTAT s PATENT OFFICE. I

BASIL P. BABCOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SPRAGUE CANNING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

NOIS.

CORPORATION OF ILLI- GEN-FILLING micnmn.

Application filed 0ctober13, 1920. Serial No. 416,637.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, BASIL P. BABoooK, a citizen of the United States; residing at Chicago, in'the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inCan-Filling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of'this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in canfilling machines and has for its object the production of a machine of this charposes.

acter, which will be of durable and economical construction, and through the medium of which cans may-be filled with great expedition. i

A further object is the production of a can-filling machine which will permit of ready adjustment thereof to vary the fill of the cans-and which will permit of the same being readily disassembled for cleaning pur- ()ther objects Will appear hereinafter. 7

The invention will be best understood by 1l"11 and 12512 respectively of Fig. 9.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a base 15 in which is rotatably mounted a central vertically disposed tubular shaft 16. The

shaft 16. is driven through the-medium of a drive shaft 17 mounted in suitable bearings 18, the inner end of said shaft being provided with a bevel gear 19 which meshes with a bevel gear 20 fixed to the shaft 16.

Arising centrally from the base 15 is a tubular supporting element 21 which embraces the shaft 16, the lower end 22 of member 21 being enlarged and secured by bolts 23 to said base 15.. 'The u per end of the member 21 is similarly ormed and serves to support an'upw ardly opening receiving chamber or reservoir 24 for the material to be canned. Ball bearings 25 are interposed between the underside of said receiving chamber and the upper end of supporting member 21 to alleviate friction. In the operation of the machine the chamber 24 is rotated by the shaft 16, said shaft being connected with said chamber by suitreference to the accompanying drawings in? able fastening devices 26.

- machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one of the plunger stem guides;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan section showing. the measuring cylinder valve operating mechanism; p

Fig. 4 is'a section taken on substantially line 44-of Fig. 3;

F'g. 5 s-a top plan view of the plunger operating cam; v 1

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of F i 5'. I

igf? is a top plan view of one of the parts of the cam; i

Fig. 8 is an end view of the construction seen in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of another section of the cam;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the construction shownin Fig. 9; and- Figs. 11 and-12 are, sections taken on lines The contents of the receiving. chamber are plied thereto through a pipe 27 which passes upwardly through-the shaft 16. The upper end of pipe 27 is enclosed in a cap or housing. 27', which is connected with'and held stationary b said pipe. From the member 27 lead ra ially disposed perforated pipes 28 which permit of the escape of the steam into the contents of the receiving. chamber and which cooperate with arms 29 which rotate with said chamber, for effectively-agitating or stirring the contents-of said chamber in the operation of the machine.

In the bottom of receiving chamber-24 are formed spaced outlet openings 30. Arranged below' said receiving chamber in registration with the outlet openings 30 are horizontal radially disposed measuring cylinders 31, the upper sides of said cylinders being suitably secured to said receiving .chamber. Formed in the u per'sideof each measuring cylinder is an in et port 32 which registers with the corresponding outlet opening 30 of the receiving chamber, and formed in the under side of each'measuring cylin der is an outlet or discharge port 33 adapted,

in the operation of the machine, to discharge the filling material into the cans A, which will be positioned directly below the same upon a table 34 provided for the purpose.

Inlet to and outlet from each measuring cylinder is controlled by a tubular valve 35 rotatably mounted in the cylinder, said valve being provided at one side with an opening a readily releasable connection between each gear and the corresponding valve is effected,

so that the valves may be readily and quickly released from the said gears and removed from the cylinders, in the cleaning of the machine, by simply sliding said valves outwardly in the cylinders. Said valves are held in operative relation with said gears by the closure plates or heads 40 with which the outer ends of the measuring cylinders are provided. Said closure plates or heads are removably secured to said cylinder in any suitable manner, but preferably through a bayonet joint connection.

Co-operating with each bevel gear 37 is a plurality of clips 41 which loosely engage with an annular bead or flange 41' provided at the inner end of the gear for retaining the gear in operative relation with the cylinder upon removal of the valve as above pointed out.

(Io-operating with the bevel gears 37 is a stationary bevel gear 42, the same being held againstmovement/ by engagement of the same with supporting member 21. The gear 42 is of the interrupted or mutilated type, the same having teeth at only two 37 is formed with two diametric inwardly projecting lugs 43 which are adapted to engage with elongated stops 44 formed upon the upper side of gear 42 intermediate the tooth portions 42 thereof. The outer sidesof lugs 43 and the upper side of the stops 44 are flat, the arrangement being such that in the operation of the machine, as a gear 37 passes out of registration with one of the toothed portions 42 of the gear 42, one of the lugs 43 of said gear 37 will engage with one of the stops 44 and remain in engagement with the latter until sai'l gear 37 engages with the other toothed portion 42 of gear 42. With this arrangement it will be seen that the toothed portions 42' of gear 42 will serve during rotation of the receiving chamber to effect intermittent rotation of the valves 35 from filling to discharging position and vice versa, said valves, When these positions are reached. being positively locked against rotation,

thereby insuring proper registration of the port 36 of each valve with the inlet and out let ports of the cylinder, while at the same time affording sufiicient periods of rest for the valve to permit of the material flowing into and completely filling the measuring chamber in one position of the valve, and flowing out of and completely draining said chamber in the other position of the valve.

(ooperating with each measuring c \'linder is also a plunger or piston 45 adapted to reciprocate therein. The stems 46 of the plungers 45 project inwardly and are provided at their inner ends with followers or rollers 47 which engage in the groove 48 of a cam 49. Said cam is formed of the groove-forming sections 50 and 51 which adjustably engage each other in order to vary the throw of the cam. Section 51 is substantially U-shaped, as clearly seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the ends thereoi being forked or provided with spaced parallel fingers 52 which slidably-engage recesses 53 formed in the sides of groove 48 in the section 50. Cooperating with the cam sections 50 and 51 is a plate 54 best seen in Figs. 5, 7, and 8. the section 50 and said plate being recessed at their adjacent edges and formed with bosses and 56 respectively adapted to embrace the supporting member 21 in order to lock the cam thereto. Bolts 57 cooperate with the bosses and 56 as will be readily understood. The bolts 57 have thumb nuts 57' which may be manually rotated in tightening or loosening the cam for adjusting the same vertically on the support 21. With this arrangement, by simply loosening the nuts 57', the cam may be lowered from engagement with the cam followers 47 in order to permit of withdrawal of the plungers 45 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cam is so designed that in the operation of the machine, as the measuring cylinders revolve withthe receiving chamber, thefollowers 47, travelling in the cam groove 48,. will cause plungers 45 to reciprocate. Each plunger will be reciprocatedto synchronize with the rotations of the, corresponding valve so that when ,the valve is in open position, that is with the opening 37 thereof in registration with the inlet portion 32, the plunger will be moved inwardly, that is, toward the center of the machine, and when the valve is in discam section in this adjustment. In order to lock cam section 51 in positions of adjustment, the plate 54 is formed with three sets of spaced elongated slots 58 with which openings 59 in said cam section 51- are cleansing purposes.

rupted gear 42 arranged below the gears 37,

adapted to register. Screws 60 pass loosely through the slots 58v and are threaded into the openings 59, the arrangement being such that section 51 may be secured in position'oy simply tightening said screws. The latter are formed with'enlarged knurled heads to facilitate manual adjustment of the same. In order to form a continuous uninterrupted bottom for the cam groove 48, the plate 54 is formed adj acent its longitudinal edges with upwardly extending ribs 52 which are adapted to form the bottom of the cam groove between the fingers 52.

In order to guide the plunger stems 40 during reciprocatory. movement thereof, guides 61 are provided which depend from the underside of receiving chamber 24. Said plunger stems slidably engage said guides whichare formed to embrace the same, the undersides of said guides being cut away at 62 as clearly seen in Fig. 2 in order to permit of the passage of the cam followers in the removal or replacementof the plungers In this removal of the plungers it will be seen that it is only necessary to release and lower the cam from engagement with the cam followers 47. The closures 40 of the measuring cylinders are then' removed, whereupon the plungers will be free to be slid outwardly and thus removed. By reason of the vertical adjustment which is afforded the cam it will be seen that the plunger stems will be all simultaneously released upon lowering of said cam. Considerable saving of time is thus effected in taking the machine apart for By having the intera constructionis provided which permits of the mounting of the guides" 61 upon the underside of the receiving chamber so that in the operation of the machine much of the strain to which the plunger stems are subjected 'in the reciprocation thereof, will be imparted to the receiving chamber which will be of comparatively stout construction, and, burden.

In order to brace and balance the measurin chambers during operation of the machine, a' web 63 is provided which loosely embraces the support 21,- the same being therefore, easily able to assume this formed of a'plurality of radiallyextending arms which are rigidly connected at their outer ends with the measuring chambers 31. Depen'din'g from said measuring chambers are supporting straps 64 for a can sweep 65, M

the latter being adapted, in the operation of the machine, to engage with the 'cans A and move the same on the table 34in registration with the outlet ports 33 of'the measuring chambers for receiving the charge of filling material as will be readily understood. Any well-known form of mechanism for feeding the cans to the table 34. and removing the same from said table after the cans have been filled will be used, such mechanism not being shown for the reason that .noclaim is made thereto, and mechanism of this type is wellknown in the art.

y In the operation of the machine, it will be seen that the cans will be moved by the can sweep 65 in unison with the measuring chambers 31. The measuring chambers will be automatically filled and discharged through the synchronous automatic operation of the valves 35 and the plungers 45. The discharge of said measuring chambers will be directed into ,the cans positioned below which, after being filled, will be automatically removed from the table 34 by conventional removing mechanism used in connection with the machine. With the arrangement set forth, the

cam section 51 to 'vary the throw thereof, and

hence the stroke of the plungers. The construction produced is durable and economical and is capable of filling cans with great expedition.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ,of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction, but desire to avail my self of such variations andmodificationsas come within the scope of the appended. claims. I

- Having thus described my invention, what I t-laim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A can-filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable means cooperating with each cham her for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; and an interrupted gear cooperating with said rotatable means for actuating the same.

2. A can-filling machine comprising a plu- \rality of revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable valves cooperating with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; an interrupted gear cooperating with said valves for imparting intermittent rotary movement thereto; and means for positlvely locking said valves against rotary movement during their periods of rest.

8. A can-filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable valves cooperating with said cham bers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; an interrupted gear cooperating with said valves for imparting intermittent rotary movement thereto; and means for positively locking said valves against rotary movement during their periods of rest, said last mentioned means comprising portions on said valves and said gears engageable'with each other during said periods-of rest of the valves.

l. A can-filling machine comprising a'plu- -rality of revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable valves cooperating withsaid chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; an interrupted gear cooperating with said valves for imparting intermittent rotary movement thereto, and means for positively locking said valves against rotary movement during their periods of rest, said last mentioned means comprising portions on said valves and flat surfaces on said gear engageable with each other during said periods ofrest of the valves.

5. A can-filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable valves cooperating with said' chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; an interrupted gear cooperating with said valves for imparting intermittent rotary movement thereto; means for positively locking said valves against rotary movement during their periods of rest, said last mentioned means comprising spaced lugs on each valve; and a plurality of elongated stops on said gear, said lugs being engageable with said stops during said periods of rest of the valves.

6. A can-filling machine comprising a plurality of. revolvable measuring chambers; rotatable means cooperating ,with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; and means comprisinga stationary interrupted gear, for actuating said rotatable means. 1

7. A can-filling machine' comprising a plurality of revolvable horizontally disposed measuring chambers; rotatable means cooperating with said chambers for controlsame; and means comprising an interrupted gear, for actuating said rotatable means.

9. A can-filling machine comprising a plurality of revolvable horizontally and radially disposed measuring chambers; rotatable valves cooperating with said chambers for controlling inlet to and outlet from the same; means for actuating said valves, comprising a gear connected with each of said valves; and an interrupted stationary gear cooperating with the gears of said valves.

10. A can-filling machine comprising a receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality of measuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each measuring chamber for discharging the same; a cam for operating the plungers; cam followers on said plungers cooperating with said cam; and guides for said plungers, said guides having openings therethrough for the passage of said followers.

11. A can-filling'machine comprising a,

receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality ofmeasuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each measuring chamber for discharging the same; a cam for operating the plungers; cam followers on said plungers cooperating with said cam; and guides for said plungers'depending from said'receiver, said guides having openings therethrough for the passage of said followers.

12. A can-filling machine comprising a receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality of measuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings: a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each measuring chamber for discharging the same; a cam for operating the plungers; cam followers on said plungers cooperating with said cam; a vertical support; and means for for adjustably securing said cam to said support whereby said cam may be moved into and out of engagement with said followers.

13. A can-filling machine comprising a receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality of measuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each n1eas uring chamber for discharging the same; and a cam for operating the plungers, said cam comprising a plurality of sections adjustably mounted to vary the throw of said cam.

14. A can-filling machine comprising a receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality of measuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each measuring chamber for discharging the same; a cam for operating the plungers, said cam comprising a plurality of sections slidably engaging each other for adjusting the cam to vary the throw thereof; and means for locking said cam sections in positions f adjustment. i

15. A can-filling machine comprising a receiving chamber for the material to be canned; a plurality of measuring chambers communicating with said receiving chamber and having outlet openings; a horizontally moving plunger cooperating with each measuring chamber for discharging the same; a cam for operating the plungers, said cam comprising two sections havin loosely telescoping ends for adjusting the cam to vary the throw thereof; and means for locking said cam sections in positions of adjustment.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- BASIL P. BABC OCK.

scribed my name. 

